Sectional building construction



March '3, 1942.A F. v WILSON, J'RL, E-TAL. 2,275,275 I I v SCTIONAL UILDING CONSTRUCTION I Filed July '27, 1939 @N\ QN SECTIONAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed July 27, i959 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Mar. 3, 1942 SECTIONAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Francis Vaux Wilson, Jr., Morrisville, Pa., and

John W. Germond, Trenton, N. J., assignors' to Homasote Company, Incorpora ted, Fernwood, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application .my zi, m. serial No. 286,840

1l Claima. (UL20-1) ing' our invention may .be of various forms lbut This invention relates to building constructions and particularly to methods and means for use in the construction and assembly of building sections. f

While the present invention is particularly applicable to constructions utilizing a modular principle of design numerous Vfeatures of the invention are of general application and are not limited to constructions of modular design.

The.patent to Bemis No. 1,878,367 describes and claims a system of design wherein the hori zontal dimensions of walls and partitions of a building are multiples of a unit referred to as a modulus. VAlthough the modulus may be chosen arbitrarily or so as to permit the use of any particular` type of structural element it is found in practice that the use of a modulus which is more or less than a whole number' of inches in length introduces so manycomplications. by reason of the'addltion and multiplication of fractions, that the system becomesv very diillcult in its operation. l

For most practical purposes a four inch modu- However conventional wooden timbers such as the 'f2 by 4s" ordinarily used in wooden or frame buildings are not actually 4 inches wide or 2 inches thick but'instead are lus Ais desirable.

usually either 3%" byls/s" orare 3%" by 1%" in cross section. Other conventional timbers are similarly cut or trimmed to fractional inches in width and thickness although referred to in lthe trade as 2 by 8s, 4 by 's" yor by other similar terms. Because of these facts modulm systems of construction have heretoforebeen limited in their applicationA to structures employing specially fabricated metal framework "or-specially out timbers and to systems using a modulus which includes a fractional part of an inch.

In order to overcome these objections; to modular systems and permit the use of conventional wooden timbers in a building of modular design and further in order to produce building sections which can be made and assembled readily we have developed a type of construction in which conventional wooden timbers are employed 4 but in whichv they are so arranged as to lend themselves to a modular system of designfIn `Vthose portions of the construction wherein the use of the modulus is of'importance novel arrangements or sub-assemblies are employed but these sub-assemblies are not formed of specially cut timbers but v.are made from' conventional timbers of the type used in forming the building sections or elsewhere in the building.

Sub-assemblies and building sections embodyit is found that the sub-assemblies generally fall yinto threeA classes as follows: i o

(l) Corner sub-assemblies forl use in corner constructions:

(2) Three-way sub-assemblies foruse inv those ylocations wherein a partition or wall abuts a wall 'extending on either side of the partition;

and

(3) Four-way sub-assemblies for use in those locations wherein partitions or walls extend in four directions from a common point.

In addition to these usual sub-assemblies there sometimes are other special locations and arrangements wherein other sub-assemblies embodying the present invention may be vused to advantage.

Building sections embodying our invention ordinarily include one or more of the foregoing sub-assemblies together fwith conventional timbers employed as studding or -for other purposes. In many instances additional sub-assembliesfor door and window openings are included ina building section. Typical sub-assemblies for wall openings are described and claimed in'our copending application Serial No. 299,052.1lledv October 12,1939.

The building sections preferably include surfacing material such as wall board or other sheet material and as hereinafter pointed out the strength of the completed section may be very greatly increased by the use and vapplication of wall board in accordance with our invention.

One of the objects of the present invention is to facilitate the use of conventional timbers in a modular design of building construction utilizing a modulus which is a whole number of inches in length.

Another object of our invention is to provide sub-assemblies formed of conventional wooden vtimbers and designed for use in a modular building construction.

A further object of our invention is to provide a novel method of constructing and assembling elements to produce a building section for use in a modular system of construction.

Another object of our invention is to provide a novel type of building section adapted to be assembledwith ,other sections in the erection of a house.

These and other objects and features of ourI invention will appear from the following description thereof in which reference is made to the flgures of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

- I4, to which the end f bled in the erection of a building. 'I'he section f 2 cooperates with a section4 to form a corner; a section 6 cooperates with the section 2 to form an abutting partition; and sections I and I0 extend from opposite sides of the section 2 to form intersecting walls which extend in four diroetions at right angles to each other. The sub-assembly i4 at the corner will hereinafter be referred to as a corner sub-assembly; the sub-assembly IB 'located at the intersection of the section 6 with the section 2 will be referred to as an intermediate 3way sub-assembly," whereas the sub-assembly i8 located in section 2 and between the ends of-the sections 8 and I0 will be referred to as an "intermediate 4-way sub-assembly.

In the construction of Fig. 2-the corner construction and sub-assembly I4 is similar to that of Fig. 1 but the sections 20 and 22, which correspond to the single section 2 of Fig. 1, are joined adjacent the abutting section 24. In this location a "terminal 3-way sub-assembly 26 is used for securing the sections 20, 22 and 24 together. A "terminal 4-way'sub-assembly" is shown at 2l for securing the section 22 to sections ll, I2 and 34 to produce intersecting walls which may be similar in location and appearance to the walls adjacent the intermediate 4-way sub-assembly" I8 of Fig. 1.

Each of the sub-assemblies i4, I6, I8, 2Q and 28 is formed of a plurality of conventional wooden timbers and these timbers are so arranged as to present over-all" dimensions which serve to locate the ends of sections and the joining surfaces of the assemblies on a modular line of the building. For this purpose the exposed surface l. of central timber 38 of the comer sub-assembly section 4 is joined, is displaced with respect to the adjacent surfaces 40 of the outer timbers 42 of thevsub-assembly. In like manner, the exposed surface 44 of the central timber 48 of sub-assembly I., to which the end of section O is joined. is displaced with respect to the adjacent surfaces of the outer timbers 4l. The exposed surfaces III and 52 of the central timbers 54 and 56 of sub-assembly II, to which the ends of sections I and Il are joined,

are displaced from the adjacent surfaces of the` outer timbers 58. The sub-assemblies I4, 26 and 2l of Fig. 2 are similarly formed to insure the location of each of the joining surfaces on a modular line of the construction.

The distance which the center timber is displaced with respect to the outer timber-is made suiiicientto compensate for the dierence between a dimension of the outer timber and that of the modulus. This is done to preserve the modular dimensions so that the center lines of the sections may be located awhole number of moduli apart and the joining surfaces of the subassemblies, and therefore the endsroi` abutting Y sections, may also be located a whole number of moduli apart and one-half of a modular dis- 7l the sub-assembly I6.

tance from the center line of the section in which they are embodied.

Since the outer timber of the subassembly is ordinarily centered with respect to the section, the center timber is made to project outward beyond the edge of the outer timber a' distance equal to the difference between one-half of the modulus and one-half the width or transverse dimension of the outer timber. In other words the center timber is displaced with respect to the outer timber a distance equal to one-half the diil'erence between a dimension of the outer timber and the dimension of the modulus. In this way the joining surfaces ofthe sub-assemblies in each section are so located as to insure the proper location of the ends of adjacent or abutting sections and the sections themselves are formed to present surfaces which fit accurately, for assembly in erecting a building. A I

As shown in Fig. 3 the central timber of the sub-assembly need not extend throughout the length of the sub-assembly but may be in the form of blocks located adjacent the ends and at the middle of the sub-assembly or at other points as required to insure the necessary strength and positioning of the parts forming the sub-assembly.

'I'hose surfaces of the sub-assemblies to which no sections are attached and the surfaces of the sections between partitions need not lie exactly on a modular line because they are not engaged by other modularly designed elements. It is therefore possible to use conventional timbers as studding l0 and iny other constructions such as assemblies for door or window openings located between the ends of a section.

When the studs l0 are made of timber of the other wall forming material may be applied to the sections very readily. Thus 'wall boards 82 may be applied to the surface 40 of'the outer timber 42 of the sub-assembly i4 and to the corresponding surface 64 of the outer timber 48 of The portion of the wall board between the sub-assemblies will then bear directly against the edges II of the studs l0 and may be secured thereto for support. The opposite edges l of the outer timbers 42 and 4I and of the studs It are in alignment and present surfaces to which the wall board Il may be secured to form a completed wall section.

By this arrangement conventional wooden timbers such as standard 2 by 4's," "2 by 8s" etc. can be used in forming sub-assemblies and wall sections which conform to design based upon any desired modulus.

Both modular and non-modular elements are embodied in the sections without introducing complications in the system. l

In forming building sections embodying our in- 4 vention the dimensions of the section and the number,l type and location of the sub-assemblies required are determined from the building plan. 'I'he sub-assemblies are first made by nailing or otherwise securing the center and outer timbers together in the proper displaced relation and are then placed on a suitable support such as the jig table described and claimed in the copending` tions or parts of the structure.

which the partsare secured together by nailing or otherwise.

The section is completed by the application f wall forming material such as the wall boards 62 and 'l0 of Fig. 3 to the frame work of timber. The wall boards are cut or applied as shown so that they engage opposite sides of the studs and have the edges thereof resting upon those surfaces of the sub-assemblies adjacent the joining surfaces of the central timbers of the sub-assemblies. The joining surfaces of the sub-assemblies are thus exposed to insure proper location and fitting of the sections in erecting the building.

It will be noted that in forming the corner at the left hand end of Fig. l the section 2 overlaps the end of section 4 and the `wall board 88 on the outer face of section 4 projects beyond the end stud 82 of section 4- to cover the outer face 84 Yof the outer timber 42 of sub-'assembly I4. Wall board 80 thus cooperates with wall board 18 of section 2 to presenta neat corner to which a corner molding strip may be applied.

It is important that the center line 86 of section 4 be spaced a distance equal to a whole number of moduli from the center line of other sec- Since the projecting end of wall board 80 on section 4 overlies the end of section 2 the outer edge 88 of end stud 82 is in line with the surface 84 at the end ofsectlon 2 and the center line of section 4 is located a distance inward from the end of section 2 equal to one-half the width of the end stud 82. If this stud is a conventional timber such as 2 by 4 which is actually only 3%" in width the center line will be located 1H" in fromthe end of the section 2.

Under these circumstances if the section 2 were of full modular dimensions and the center line 86 of section 4 locatedonly 1H" in from the end of section 2 it is apparent that the center line would be spaced 1%" from its modular position and section 4 would not be so positioned as to cooperate with other sections. This is overcome in practice and the center line of section 4 propl erly located by forming all overlapping sections, such as section 2, a whole number of moduli in length-less inch. Abutting sections can then be made with full modular dimensions and will be properly spaced. with their center, lines full and assembly of sections in erecting a building. g.

Such deviations are described fully in a book entitled Tomorrows Homes by F. Vaux-Wilson, Jr., but in order to simplify the description of our invention in the present application they have been ignored. Therefore it should be unopenings are 4cut out so that the sheet extends from one end of the section to the other. vThe sheet is then secured to the top and bottom plates and to the studs. The edges of the sheet may be secured to the outer timbers oi' the end subassembly orv members of the section but when a corner construction of the type shown and described inthe application of Cormie Serial No. 284,425 filed July 14, 1939 is used the edge of the sheet overlying the outer timber of a corner subassembly is not secured directly thereto.

The use of a single sheet of wall forming material as described is found to give the section remarkable strength and rigidity. Comparative tests on sections formed with a single sheet of .Homasote" applied thereto as the wall forming material have shown that the strength of a section, that is the resistance to displacement on applying force to one corner while holding the diagonally opposite corner stationary, is 272% greater than the strength of a similar section having 3/4" by 8" sheathing applied thereto parallel to the llongitudinal edge of the section, and is 30% stronger than a section in which such sheathing is applied diagonally of the section. Moreover, the displacement of the corner of a section embodying the present invention. upon failure was only 1.3'." whereas the displacement of the diagonally sheathed section on failure was 3.1" and that of the parallel sheathed section was 8.5.

The surprising strength of sections embodyf ing the present invention is believed to be due derstood that reference to "modular dimensions in the description and claims of this application is intended to include both dimensions which are strictly modular and dimension having related deviationsto conform to a modular system such not only to the use of Aa single sheet of wall forming'material on the framework but also is due in lpart at least to the use of sub-assemblies which are built right into the section and provide the section itself with the strength of the l corner posts or columns to which the sections of prior prefabricated buildings have been secured andby the elimination of special tongue and groove or other interfltting parts for joining the sections. y.

The sections of the present invention are secured together by toe nailing, direct nailing or by the use of any desired form of bolts, cleats, screws or the like.

'I'he size and form of any particular section and the type and construction of any particular sub-assembly used in forming a section embodying our invention will be determined from the buildingplan and while each wall of a room or enclosure will ordinarily be formed of only -one section. two or more sections may be used particularly when the room is very long and the size of the section would be toovgreat for easy handling or erection.

The method of assembling the parts to form the sub-assemblies and sections also may be varied considerably to facilitate the application thereof. It should therefore be understood that the forms of our invention shown in the drawings and described above and the methods of fabrication of sections and sub-assemblies are intended to be illustrative of our invention and are not intended to limit the scope thereof.

We claim:A

l. A'building section adapted to be assembled .i

with other sections to form the vertical walls of a structure. said section having a verticaly and longitudinally disposed central plane. and having horizontal dimensions which are a 4whole multiple of a modulus that is a whole number oi'V inches in length. said section embodying a subassembly located in said section in position to be engaged by the end of another section and `comprising two conventional wooden timbers having their longest dimensions extending vertically in `the section and having horizontal dimensions lying in a modularly disposed plane of the'struc-v ture to position the end of another section on a modular line in the structure.

2. A building section adapted to be assembled with other sections to form the vertical walls of a structure, said section having a vertically and longitudinally disposed central plane, and having horizontal dimensions which are a whole multiple of a modulus that is a whole number of inches in length, said section embodying a sub-assembly located in said section in position to be engaged by the end of another section and comprising two conventional wooden timbers having their longest dimensions extending vertically in the section and having horizontal dimensions which are not a whole number of inches in length, said timbers being secured together with one timber centered with respect to the central plane of said section and the other timber displaced horizontally with re- A spect to said iirst timber and presenting a vertically disposed surface parallel to and spaced onehalf of the length of said modulus from the central plane of said section to position the end of another section on a modular line in the structure.

3. A building section adapted to be assembled with other sections to form the vertical walls of a structure. said section having a vertically and longitudinally disposed central plane, and having horizontal dimensions which are a whole multiple of a modulus that is a whole number of inches in length, said section embodying a sub-assembly located in said section in position to kbe engaged by the end of another section and comprising a conventional Wooden` timber having its longest dimension extending vertically in said section and having horizontal dimensions which are not a whole number of inches in length, said timber being centered with respect to the central plane of the section, and means secured to said timber presenting a vertically 4disposed surface parallel to and spaced onehalf the length of said modulus fromzsaid central plane to position the end of another section on a modular line in the structure.

4. A building section adapted to be assembled with other sections to form the vertical walls of a structure, said section having a vertically and longitudinally disposed central plane, and having horizontal dimensions which are a whole multiple of a modulus that is a whole number of inches in length, said section embodying a sub-assembly located in said section in position to be engaged by the end of another section comprising a conventional wooden timber having its longest dimension extending vertically in the section and having horizontal dimensions which are not a whole number oi' inches in length, said timber being centered with respect to the central plane of the sectionl and means secured to said .timber and presenting opposltely facing, vertically extending surfaces which are parallel to and each spaced one-half the length of said modulus from said central plane on opposite sides thereof to position the ends of other sections on modular lines and'v the length oi said modulus apart in said structure.

5. A building section adapted to be assembled with other sections to form the vertical walls of a structure, said section having a verticallyV and longltudinally'disposed central plane, and

having horizontal dimensions which are a whole multiple of a modulus that isa whole number of inches in length. said sectionv embodying a sub-assembly located in said section in position to be engaged by the end of another section and comprising two conventional wooden timbers having their longest dimensions extending vertically in the section and having horizontal dimensions which are not a whole number of inches in length, said timbers being centered with respect to the central plane of said section, and a third timber located between said rst'two tlmbers and secured thereto in horizontally displaced relation, said third timber presenting a vertically disposed surface parallel to and spaced one-half the length of said modulus from the central plane of said section to position the end of another section on a modular line in the structure.

6. A building section adapted to be assembled with other sections to form the vertical walls of a structure, said section having a vertically and longitudinally disposed central plane, and having horizontal dimensions which are a whole multiple of a modulus that is a whole number of inches in length, said section embodying a sub-assembly located in said section in position to be engaged by the end of another section and comprising two conventional wooden timbers 'having their longest dimensions extending vertically in the section and having horizontal dimensions which are not a whole number of inches in length, said timbers both being centered with respect to the central plane oi' said section, and two other timbers located between the first two and secured thereto in horizontally displaced relation, said other two timbers presenting oppositely facing, vertically extending surfaces which are parallel to and each spaced one-half the length of said modulus from said central plane on opposite sides thereof to position the ends of other sections on modular lines and the length of said modulus apart in said structure.

7. `A building section adapted to be assembled with other sections to form the vertical walls of a structure, said section having a vertically and longitudinally disposed central plane, and having horizontal dimensions which are a whole multiple of a modulus that is a whole number of inches in length, said section embodying a sub-assembly located in said section in position to be engaged by the end of another section and end of another section on a modular line in said structure.

8. A rectangular building section adapted to be assembled with other building sections to form the vertical walls of a structure, said section having a horizontally extending top plate, a horizontally extending bottom plate and a plurality of vertically extending studs connected 'to said top plate and said bottom plate, said section havin?.`

horizontal dimensions which are equal to a whole multiple of a modulus that is a whole number of inches in length and having a central plane which passes through said top plate, said bottom tered conventional wooden timbers of the subassembly and lying adjacent lthe vertically displate and said studs, said studs being *formed of conventional wooden timbers having horizontal dimensions which are not a whole number of inches in length and being. centered with respect to the central plane of the section, and a sub-assembly embodied in said section and positioned to be engaged by the end of another section, said sub-assembly comprising a conventional wooden timber similar to said studs and extending vertically from said bottom plate to said top plate and centered with respect to said central plane and means secured to said timber and presenting a vertically extending surface parallel to and spaced one-half ofthe length of said modulus from said central plane to posi-v tion the end of another section on a modular line in said structure. n

9. A'building section of the character set forth in claim 3 having wall board applied thereto parallel to the central plane of the section and posed surface of said means whereby said surface is exposed to position another section on a modular line in said structure.

y 10. A building section of thecharacter set4 forth in claim 7 having wall board applied thereto parallel to the central plane of the section and having the edge thereof bearing against the centered conventional wooden) timber of the subassembly and lying adjacent the vertically disposed surface of said means whereby said surface is exposed to position another section on a modular linein said structure.

11. A building section of the character set forth in claim 8 having wall board applied to said section parallel to said central plane and in engagement with said studs, the edge of said wall board bearing against the centered timber of said subassembly and lying adjacent the vertically extending surface of said means, whereby said sur-V face isk exposed to position the end of another section on a modular line in the structure.

FRANCIS VAUX WILSON. Ja. JOHN W. GERMOND. 

